Holding means for railway brakes



Jan. 15, 1929. T1,699,212

. H. (1. SMITH HOLDING MEANS FOR RAILWAY BRAKES 7 Filed Sept. 1 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1v W fimr I Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,212

' H. 6. SMITH HOLDING'MEANS FOR RAILWAY BRAKES Fgled Sept. 13, 192%- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 15, 1929. ,1 1,699,212 H. C. SMITH HOLDING MEANS FOR RAILWAY 5111111115 Filed Sept. 15, 1926 4 sne ta-snm. 3.

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l H. c. SMITH HOLDING MEANS FOR RAILWAY BRAKES Fileq Sept. 13, 1926 4 Sheds-Shut 4 gr?- 1 I lllDIllllllHi HINIII Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES HENRY C. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HOLDING MEANS FOR RAILWAY BRAKES.

Application filed September 13, 1926. Serial No. 134,968.

My invention relates to holding means for railway brakes and has particular reference to a movably mounted ratchet member for use on the brake shaft of hand brakes for railway cars, so the ratchet wheel is in proper relation and alignment with the brake shaft for easy and satisfactory operation.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a mounting for the ratchetwhcel employed upon the brake shaft for holding the brakes in engagement with the car wl eels which is free to move with the brake rod so that it the end of the railway car is bulged outward the brake shaifft is not bent outward or if the brake rod is bent laterally, the ratchet wheel remams in operable position upon the brake shaft and does not bind in the bearings so that the brakes cannot be appliedto or released from the railway cars. rlnother and further object of my invention the provision of a ratchet and pawl placed in movable relation with the brake shatt and the mounting for said pawl whereby the ratchet wheel and pawl are kept in proper spaced relationship with each other so the pawl can be applied to the ratchet wheel and hold the brake shaft against rota tiou when the brakes are applied to the car.

In applying the brake shafts to box cars particularly, it common practice to apply a step to the end of the car upon which the trainmen stand when applying the brakes this step being spaced from the top of the car so that the trainmen in applying the brake can stand suiliciently erect to exert force enough upon the brake wheel to prop erly apply the brakes and without having the brake shafts and brake wheel extend above the top of the car a considerable dis tance so that they might catch on overhead obstructions and the like. The brake shafts are fastened usually at their lower ends to the our end sill and at their upper ends to t he cud Fascia and extend in a vertical line up the end of the car. After the car hasbeen in service for a time the end of the ear bulges outward, thus bending the brake shafts and rusing the ratchet wheels to bind in their hearings or to be tilted sidewise so they resist rotation of the brake shaft and very frequently bind in the bearings through the car step to such an extent that the brake shalt can not be turned and the brakes applied to -tion the provision of the car. In my improved form of device the ratchet wheel and pawl are mounted in such manner so that thebrake shaft is not kept or moved outward or if the shaft is bent the ratchet and pawl move with it and remain in proper alignment with the brake shaft so that they are in proper position to hold the brake shaft against rotation when the brakes are applied to the car.

Another and further object of my invena mounting for a brake ratchet and pawl which are held in fixed relationship with each other so that neither the pawl nor the ratchet wheel can be moved a sutlieient distance from each other so the pawl cannot engage the ratchet wheel to properly hold the ratchet wheel against movement.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings and in which: Figure l is an end elevational tially in section; of a box ear brake shalt applied thereto Figure 2 is a plan view of my improved invention t Figure 3 a vertical lines 3+3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical lines 4.--1 0f Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View on lines 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form oi fixed holding member;

Figure? is a vertical sectional View on lines 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional lines 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical lines 9-9 of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a plan View of thcholding member illustrated in igure 2;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the pawl mounting member illustrated iu Figure 2; and

Figure 12 is a side view of the members illustrated in Figures 10 andll in assembled relation.

Referringnow specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a box car end 10 is shown having the usual end sill 11 and an end fascia 12 with a brake shaft 13 held in position by a brake shaft guide 14 view, parsectional View on sectional view on view on sectional view on showing" th e a all means of bolts passing; through hole at its lower end which in turn is secured to the end i. 'll 11 at the bottom of the car. The lu'ake shaiit 13 is held in vertical position by a guide 15 secured to the end sill 11 in any approved manner and by an upper guide 16 secured to the end fascia 12 of the car. The usual hand brake wheel 17 is mounted upon the upper end. of the shaft 13 and studs 18, 18 are applied to the brake shalt at its lower end .to which one end of a brake chain is applied, it being understood that the brake chain. is wrapped around the bralae shaft 13 as this shaft is rotated b a the hand wheel 17 drawing the brakes against the wheels of the car.

lllounjted upon the car end 10 by a pair of braelnets ii) and 2h scoured to the car end .10 in any suitable manner, is a step 21 through which the brake shaft 13 passes and upon which a, fixed member 22 is mounted by in the member The member 22 has an elongated opening ill in the :torward end thereof thrmigh which the brake shaft 13 extends without engagement with the mom ber so that the brake shaft 13 rotates freely or can move without binding; in the member 22. Mounted alongside the opening 24: on the member 22 and formed integral therewith, is a pair of shouldered lugs 25 and 26 having; inwardly projecting portions 27 and 28 respectively formed thereon for the purposes hereinafter described.

Mounted upon the member 22 is a longitudinally movable member 29 having an annular head portion 30 formed thereon with an opening 31 therethrough within which is seated a collar 32 formed on the end of the hub 33 of the usual ratchet wheel 34 mounted upon the brake pharl't 13 and held against rotation thereon in any desirable manner. At the rear end of the movable member 529 is an lll)$%l{1l1fl.lll post 35 upon which the usual double ended pawl 36 is mounted by means of a bolt Ill. A pair of spaced lugs 38 and 39 itend upwardly from the member 22 which are termed. intesrrally vith and which are adapted to en age s ol' the member 29 to prevent lateral inoren'ient thereof but permitting; a Sliding longitudinal movement of the member 29 upon the tired member The collar ot' the hub 33 is fitted. into the opening 31 in the head 30, the lower end of the hub resting upon and being supported by the fixed member 22, while the collar 32 passes under the portions 27 and 28 of the lugs 25 and 26 respectively and is thus held against being lifted- The brake shatt 13 is square as shown in the drawing, and passes through a square open ire; ll) through the hub 3.3. of the ratchet wheel 34; so that the ratchet B l is held against rotation relative to the brake shatt The brake shaft nay be round and the ratchet keyed thereto if desired, or scoured thereto in any other manner so long the ratchet held. against rotation upon the shaft 13.

In Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, a modified form of device is illustrated in which lateral, as well as longitudinal, movement oi the brake shaft may take place without binding the ratehct mechanism or rendering it in- .peratu'e. A fixed member ll is provided having a slot (l2 therein and having: a lon a'i' tudinally extending recess il-3 on the under side thereof, the slot l2 being centrally located. with respect to the recess 4?, the said member lmving an opening ll in one end thereot through which the l'll'lltfl shalt 1.2-3 passes, the opening ttl being sullicicntly large so that when the brake shalt 13 is centered therein. sullicieut clearance provided so that the brake shalt 13 may be proved in any dime-lion. llolt holes l5 and lb are provided through. which bolts pass in securing the member ll to the car step 21. The movable member 29 is placed on top of the fixed member ll and secreted thereto by abolt 47 which extends through the 12, the bolt all having a nut l8 there on which is seated in the recess 43, the said bolt -17 extending through the post till upon which the pawl 36 mounted. it collar 4:9 is placed upon the brake shaft 13 ahore the hub 38 of the ratchet wheel 3% which is l-iQClll'tlLl to the brake shaft 13 by means of a :-.-:ct screw 50 for the purpose of preventing the ratchet wheel 34; slipping up so i; will not be engaged by the pawl 36.

In assembling the preferred form (it the device illustrated in l igrures 1 to 5 inclusive, of the drawings, it will be understood that the brake shaft 13 is passed through the elongated opening ill in the member 22 and through the square opening l0. in the hub ill} of the .ratchet wheel 3 1 and that the end oi. the hub 23 rests upon the member 112:5 with. the annular portion 352' ot the hub eiitniidiiur uiulorueath the portions 27 and it on the hurt: and 26, so that the ratchet wheel vi; is held against upward movement by the rlions ill and ml with the shoulders lio'cventiug a lateral or out oi line note ant of the member 29 upon the incluher '2: but permitting a longitudinal. more moot oi' the movable member .Z-lt ll. elip'ls. clearance is provided between the upper ed, oi the annular portion 232 and the lower edur of t o portions 2.? and 28 so that a slight til. or rocking; movement of: the ratchet wheel 34: is permitted so that it the brake shalt is bent or forced out alignment in any manner the :atchet wheel will not bind in the movable member 2%. The member 22 thereupon bolted to the car step :21 and the entire apparatus thus held in proper relation with the brake shaft upon the car 2-1 and the ratchet wheel and pawl more lib ill)

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outward with the brake shaft 13 if the shaft is bent outward by the bulging of the car end.

The operation of assembling the modified form of the device substantially the same as that of the preferred form, and when assembled the lower end 32 of the hub 23 5 rests upon the member 41 and seats in the opening 31 in the movable member 29 which member is held by means of the bolt l? to the fixed member ll, but is capable of movement longitudinally, as the nut 48 is not screwed down tightly so the member 29 can also have a laterally pivotal movement thus conforming to any movement of the brake rod 13.

In operation of each of the forms the device performs precisely in the same manner as the ratch +ts now in use in that the trainman grasps the hand wheel 17 and by rotating it, winds the brake chain around the lower end of the brake shaft and when the brakes are applied sufiiciently tight the pawl. 36 is turned so that one end thereof engages the teeth formed in the periphery of the ratchet wheel 84. to prevent backward rotation of the brake shaft 13 and thus hold the brakes in engagement with the car wheels. hen it is desired to release the bralres the pawl 36 is released from the ratchet wheel and the brake shaft 13 allowed to rotate freely, thus releasing the brakes from. engagement with the car wheels.

It will be noted that the movable member 29 has a ratchet wheel 34 mounted upon one end thereof and the pawl 36 at the opposite end thereof so that these members are always in fixed distance with relatiim to each other so that even though the ratchet wheel 3&1: may be moved outward, the pawl is in proper position to engage the ratchet wheel 3% and that the ratchet wheel being mounted for sliding movement upon the fixed bracket 22 in the brake shaft 13 is bent outward by the bulging of the car there is no binding of the ratchet wheel 34 in its hearings to prevent or retard rotation of the brake shaft 13 so that the hand brakes can always be easily applied to the car.

lVhile I have described more or lcssprerisclv the details of construction. I do not wi. to be understimd as limiting n'lyselli tl'lereto, as I contemplate changes in form and. the proportion of parts and the substrtul iou of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without depart- :ing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member mounted upon the brake rod, a pawl and a movable mounting for said ratchet member.

2. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member mounted upon the brake rod, a pawl and amovable combination mounting upon which said ratchet member and said pawlare mounted.

3. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member, a pawl. and a couunon movable mounting for said ratchet and said pawl.

l. Brake rod holding means comprising in. combination a ratchet member mounted upon a brake shaft, a movable mounting for said ratchet member, and a pawl, the said pawl and said ratchet member being held in fixed relation with each other.

5. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member, a pawl, and a movable mounting for said ratchet member and said pawl, the centers of the pawl mounting and the centers of the said ratchet being other.

6. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member mounted upon the brake rod, a fixed member, a movable member connected to said fixed member and means on said movable member for holding the said pawl and the said ratchet member.

7. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member, a pawl, a fixed member, a on said first mentioned member and means on said movable member for holding the said ratchet member and the said pawl.

8. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet member connected to the brake rod, a pawl, a fixed member, a member mounted upon said fixed member and movable relatively thereto, and a pawl mounting on said movable member upon which the said pawl is secured, the said movable member having an opening therein adapted to receive the said ratchet. member.

9. Brake rod holding means comprising in combination a ratchet wheel mounted upon the brake rod, a fixed member, a second member, means whereby the said second member is held in movable engagement with said fixed member, a pawl, a. pawl mounting in fixed relation with each upon said second member, and means whereby the said ratchet wheel and said pawl are held in fixed spaced relation with each other.

10. Brake holding means comprising in a fixed member, a movable member, a ratchet wheel mounted upon the brake shaft upon said movable member, and f a. pawl also mounted on said movable mem her, the said fixed member having means thereon whereby the said movable member is held against rotary movement but allowing for longitudinal movement. v

11. Brake holding means comprising in combination a fixedmember, a movable 'member having a circular head, and an opening therein, aratchet wheel mounted upon movable member mounted the brake shaft and upon said movable bracket within said opening, and a pawl also mounted on said movable member, the said fixed member having lugs adapted to engage the head of the movable member and the ratchet Wheel whereby the ratchet Wheel and the said movable member are held in operative relation With each other.

12. Brake rod holding means comprising 10 in combination a ratchet Wheel fixed upon the brake rod, a fixed member, a second member movably mounted upon said fixed member having an opening therein, a pawl, and a pawl mounting upon said second member, the hub of the ratchet Wheel extending into the opening in the said movable in ember.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of September, 1926.

HENRY C. SMITH. 

